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At least 37 records · Page 2

Radiogenic Ingrowth of 40CA from Decay of 40K Provides a Powerful Tracer for Understanding the Origins of Felsic Magmas

Over time high K/Ca continental crust produces a unique Ca isotopic reservoir, with measurable 40Ca excesses compared to Earth's mantle (ɛCa=0). Thus, values of ɛCai > 1 indicate a significant crustal contribution to a magma. Values of ɛCai (<1) indistinguishable from mantle Ca indicate that the Ca in those magmas is either directly from the mantle, or is from partial melting of newly formed crust. So, whereas 40Ca excesses clearly define crustal contributions, mantle-like 40Ca/44Ca ratios are not as definitive. Here we present Ca isotopic measurements of intermediate to felsic igneous rocks from the western United States, and two crustal xenoliths found within the Fish Canyon Tuff (FCT). The two crustal xenoliths found within the 28.2 Ma FCT of the southern Rocky Mountain volcanic field (SRMVF) yield ɛCa values of ~4 and ~7.5, respectively. The 40Ca excesses of these possible source rocks are due to long-term in situ 40K decay and suggest that they are Precambrian in age. However, the FCT (ɛCai ~0.3) is within uncertainty of the mantle 40Ca/44Ca. Together, these data indicate that little Precambrian crust was involved in the petrogenesis of the FCT. Nd isotopic analyses of the FCT imply that it was generated from 10- 75% of an enriched component, and the Ca isotopic data appear to restrict that component to newly formed lower crust, or enriched mantle. However, the Ca isotopic data do permit assimilation of some crust with low Ca/Nd; decreasing the 143Nd/144Nd without adding much excess 40Ca to the FCT. Several other large tuffs from the SRMVF and from Yellowstone have ɛCai indistinguishable from the mantle. However, a few large tuffs from the SRMVF show significant 40Ca excesses. These tuffs (Wall Mountain, Blue Mesa, and Grizzly Peak) are likely sourced from near, or within the Colorado Mineral Belt. New isotopic measurements of Mesozoic and Tertiary granites from across the northern Great Basin show a range of ɛCai from 0 to ~3. In these samples ɛCai is generally correlated with ɛSri and is broadly negatively correlated with ɛNdi. However, for granites with similar ɛNdi at a given general location ɛCai can vary significantly (1 to 2 epsilon units). In rocks where low ɛNdi could also be due to melting from enriched reservoirs in the mantle lithosphere, the combination of high ɛCai with low ɛNdi clearly identifies crustal melts.

Mills, Ryan D.↗

Mining Twitter Data to Augment NASA GPM Validation

The Twitter data stream is an important new source of real-time and historical global information for potentially augmenting the validation program of NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. There have been other similar uses of Twitter, though mostly related to natural hazards monitoring and management. The validation of satellite precipitation estimates is challenging, because many regions lack data or access to data, especially outside of the U.S. and in remote and developing areas. The time-varying set of "precipitation" tweets can be thought of as an organic network of rain gauges, potentially providing a widespread view of precipitation occurrence. Twitter provides a large source of crowd for crowdsourcing. During a 24-hour period in the middle of the snow storm this past March in the U.S. Northeast, we collected more than 13,000 relevant precipitation tweets with exact geolocation. The overall objective of our project is to determine the extent to which processed tweets can provide additional information that improves the validation of GPM data. Though our current effort focuses on tweets and precipitation, our approach is general and applicable to other social media and other geophysical measurements. Specifically, we have developed an operational infrastructure for processing tweets, in a format suitable for analysis with GPM data; engaged with potential participants, both passive and active, to "enrich" the Twitter stream; and inter-compared "precipitation" tweet data, ground station data, and GPM retrievals. In this presentation, we detail the technical capabilities of our tweet processing infrastructure, including data abstraction, feature extraction, search engine, context-awareness, real-time processing, and high volume (big) data processing; various means for "enriching" the Twitter stream; and results of inter-comparisons. Our project should bring a new kind of visibility to Twitter and engender a new kind of appreciation of the value of Twitter by the science research communities.

validatio↗

The deep atmosphere of Venus revealed by high-resolution nightside spectra

The first high-resolution spectroscopic observations of the night side of Venus obtained in two narrow spectral windows centered at 1.74 and 2.3 microns, where the nightside is anomalously bright, are reported. Absorption features from CO2, CO, H2O, HDO, HCl, HF, and COS are detected, and there are a number of unidentified features. A preliminary analysis indicates that the observed radiation is thermal emission from atmospheric layers in the eight-bar pressure region for the 2.3 micron window and even deeper at 1.7 micron. The derived CO and H2O abundances agree with in situ Pioneer measurements in the deep troposphere and are consistent with the high deuterium enrichment inferred from Pioneer data. The first measurements of HCl and HF below the clouds are reported along with the first firm detection of COS.

Bezard, Bruno↗

The local metallicity-surface brightness relationship in galactic disks

We present the results of a first attempt to employ multiaperture masks to obtain spectrophotometry of H II regions in nearby galaxies. A total of 97 H II regions in six southern spiral galaxies were observed using a combination of multiaperture masks and conventional long-slit spectrophotometry. The oxygen abundances derived from the multiaperture mask observations using the empirical abundance diagnostic R(sub 23) are shown to be consistent with those from long-slit spectra and generally show better reproducibility and object definition. Although the number of objects that can be observed simultaneously with this particular system is still quite limited compared with either imaging spectrophotometry or fiber-fed spectrographs, the spectral resolution offered and high throughput in the blue help make multiaperture spectrophotometry a competitive technique for increasing the sampling of H II regions in both radial distance and luminosity. There is still no clear trend of abundance gradient with either the galaxy's luminosity or its Hubble type, although the extrapolated central abundance does appear to correlate with galaxy luminosity/mass. In order to avoid difficulty in choosing an appropriate normalizing radius, we instead plot the oxygen abundance against the underlying I-band surface brightness at the radial distance of the H II region and confirm the existence of a local metallicity-surface brightness reltaionship within the disks of spiral galaxies. Although the simple closed-boc model of galaxy evolution predicts almost the right form of this relationship, a more realistic multizone model employing expnentially decreasing gas infall provides a more satisfactory fit to the observational data, provided the expected enriched gas return from dying low-mass stars shedding their envelopes at late epochs is properly taken into account. This same model, with a star formation law based upon self-regulating star formation in a three-dimensional disk (Dopita & Ryder 1994), is equally capable of accounting for the observed relationship between recent massive star formation and stellar surface brightness (Ryder & Dopita 1994).

Ryder, Stuart D.↗

Methylhopane Biomarker and Carbon Isotopic Evidence for Late Archean Aerobic Ecosystems

Molecular fossils are particularly valuable in early Earth studies because they provide information about microbial sources and ecology. Here we report on the distribution of 2- methyl and 3-methylhopanes preserved in a 2.72-2.56 billion-year-old section of shallow and deepwater sediments of the Hamersley Province [Eigenbrode et aI., submitted]. These biomarkers are mostly from cyanobacteria and oxygen-respiring methanotrophs, respectively. The relative abundance of 2-methylhopanes increases with carbonate abundance in shallow-water facies indicating cyanobacteria were key microbes in shallow ecosystems and suggesting they supplied both molecular oxygen and fixed carbon. The relative abundance of 3-methylhopane strongly correlates with kerogen-carbon isotopic values, and is more abundant in the samples with 13C-enriched signatures. Thus, molecular data provides evidence for cycling of methane in shallow settings, even though the anoxic deeper environments bear stronger 13C-depletion, which together suggests a more complex methane cycle than previously envisioned. Detailed facies analysis of the Hamersley carbon-isotope record reveals temporal changes suggesting continued oxidation of shallow settings favoring the expansion of aerobic ecosystems and respiring organisms [Eigenbrode et aI., 2006, PNAS, 103: 15759]. Similar analysis of published carbon-isotopic records suggests similar, but diachronous, expansion of oxygenated habitats in shallow then deep waters as anaerobic microbial communities gave way to respiring communities fueled by oxygenic photosynthesis before the post 2.45-Ga atmospheric oxygenation event [Eigenbrode et aI., 2006]. The robust relationships observed provide geochemical support for methanogenesis, aerobic methanotrophy, and oxygenic photosynthesis in the late Archean, as well as major ecological shifts linked to biogeochemical reorganization.

Eigenbrode, Jennifer L.↗

LU-HF Age of Martian Meteorite Larkman Nunatek 06319

Lu-Hf isotopic data were collected on mineral separates and bulk rock powders of LAR 06319, yielding an age of 197+/- 29 Ma. Sm-Nd isotopic data and in-situ LA-ICP-MS data from a thin section of LAR 06319 are currently being collected and will be presented at the 2009 LPSC. These new data for LAR 06319 extend the existing data set for the enriched shergottite group. Martian meteorites represent the only opportunity for ground truth investigation of the geochemistry of Mars [1]. At present, approximately 80 meteorites have been classified as Martian based on young ages and distinctive isotopic signatures [2]. LAR 06319 is a newly discovered (as part of the 2006 ANSMET field season) martian meteorite that represents an important opportunity to further our understanding of the geochemical and petrological constraints on the origin of Martian magmas. Martian meteorites are traditionally categorized into the shergottite, nakhlite, and chassignite groups. The shergottites are further classified into three distinct isotopic groups designated depleted, intermediate, and enriched [3,4] based on the isotope systematics and compositions of their source(s).

Shafer, J. T.↗

Correlations Among Microstructure, Morphology, Chemistry, and Isotopic Systematics of Hibonite in CM Chondrites

Introduction: Hibonite is a primary refractory phase occurring in many CAIs, typically with spinel and perovskite. Our microstructural studies of CAIs from carbonaceous chondrites reveal a range of stacking defect densities and correlated non-stoichiometry in hibonite. We also conducted a series of annealing experiments, demonstrating that the Mg-Al substitution stabilized the formation of defect-structured hibonite. Here, we continue a detailed TEM analysis of hibonite-bearing inclusions from CM chondrites that have been well-characterized isotopically. We examine possible correlations of microstructure, morphology, mineralogy, and chemical and isotopic systematics of CM hibonites in order to better understand the formation history of hibonite in the early solar nebula. Methods: Fifteen hibonite-bearing inclusions from the Paris CM chondrite were analyzed using a JEOL 7600F SEM and a JEOL 8530F electron microprobe. In addition to three hibonite-bearing inclusions from the Murchison CM chondrite previously reported, we selected three inclusions from Paris, Pmt1-6, 1-9, and 1-10, representing a range of 26Al/27Al ratios and minor element concentrations for a detailed TEM study. We extracted TEM sections from hibonite grains using a FEI Quanta 3D field emission gun SEM/FIB. The sections were then examined using a JEOL 2500SE field-emission scanning TEM equipped with a Thermo-Noran thin window EDX spectrometer. Results and Discussion: A total of six hibonite-bearing inclusions, including two platy hibonite crystals (PLACs) and four spinel-hibonite inclusions (SHIBs), were studied. There are notable differences in chemical and isotopic compositions between the inclusions (Table 1), indicative of their different formation environment or timing. Our TEM observations show perfectly-ordered, stoichiometric hibonite crystals without stacking defects in two PLACs, 2-7-1 and 2-8-2, and in three SHIBs, Pmt1-6, 1-9, and 1-10. In contrast, SHIB 1-9-5 hibonite grains contain a low density of stacking defects linked to an increase in MgO contents, indicating complex, disordered intergrowths of stoichiometric and MgO-enriched hibonites. From the data collected to date, we find no clear correlation between the microstructures of hibonite and its morphological and mineralogical types that reflect distinct chemical and isotopic systematics [6-8,10]. Interestingly, the presence of no or few stacking defects in hibonite from the PLACs and SHIBs are in contrast to our experimental studies that produced very high densities of stacking defects in hibonite [3-5]. Unlike our experi-ments, electron microprobe data from the PLACs and SHIBs hibonite grains show a strong correlation between (Ti4++Si4+) and Mg2+ cations, suggesting that coupled substitutions of (Ti4++Mg2+) and (Si4++Mg2+) for 2Al3+ inhibit the formation of defect-structured hibonite. However, our experimental studies suggest that kinetics (e.g., cooling rate) or other thermal effects also exert a strong control on the microstructures and chemical compositions of hibonite. In Pmt1-6, elongated perovskite grains present at the hibonite grain boundaries display (121) twinning, indicative of a fast cooling (>50degC/min) after high-temperature events. Therefore, the nebular microstructural characteristics of hibonite, at least in this inclusion, would not have destroyed by subsequent high-temperature annealing. Conclusions: Our TEM observations thus far show no clear correlation in microstructures, morphological and mineralogical characteristics, and chemical and isotopic systematics of hibonites from CM chondrites. The observed variation in stacking defect densities in the hibonites may be controlled by thermal processes in the early solar nebula. A detailed TEM analysis of additional CM hibonite samples is underway to evaluate this hypothesis.

Han, J.↗

On the Origin of Fluorine-Poor Apatite in Chondrite Parent Bodies

We conducted a petrologic study of apatite within one LL chondrite, six R chondrites, and six CK chondrites. These data were combined with previously published apatite data from a broader range of chondrite meteorites to determine that chondrites host either chlorapatite or hydroxylapatite with ≤33 mol% F in the apatite X-site (unless affected by partial melting by impacts, which can cause F-enrichment of residual apatite). These data indicate that either fluorapatite was not a primary condensate from the solar nebula or that it did not survive lower temperature nebular processes and/or parent body processes. Bulk-rock Cl and F data from chondrites were used to determine that the solar system has a Cl/F ratio of 10.5 ± 1.0 (3σ). The Cl/F ratios of apatite from chondrites are broadly reflective of the solar system Cl/F value, indicating that apatite in chondrites is fluorine poor because the solar system has about an order of magnitude more Cl than F. The Cl/F ratio of the solar system was combined with known apatite-melt partitioning relationships for F and Cl to predict the range of apatite compositions that would form from a melt with a chondritic Cl/F ratio. This range of apatite compositions allowed for the development of a crude model to use apatite X-site compositions from achondrites (and chondrite melt rocks) to determine whether they derive from a volatile-depleted and/or differentiated source, albeit with important caveats that are detailed in the manuscript. This study further highlights the utility of apatite as a mineralogical tool to understand the origin of volatiles (including H 2 O) and the diversity of their associated geological processes throughout the history of our solar system, including at its nascent stage.

Francis M. McCubbin↗

The rhesus measurement system: A new instrument for space research

The Rhesus Research Facility (RRF) is a research environment designed to study the effects of microgravity using rhesus primates as human surrogates. This experimental model allows investigators to study numerous aspects of microgravity exposure without compromising crew member activities. Currently, the RRF is slated for two missions to collect its data, the first mission is SLS-3, due to fly in late 1995. The RRF is a joint effort between the United States and France. The science and hardware portions of the project are being shared between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and France's Centre National D'Etudes Spatiales (CNES). The RRF is composed of many different subsystems in order to acquire data, provide life support, environmental enrichment, computer facilities and measurement capabilities for two rhesus primates aboard a nominal sixteen day mission. One of these subsystems is the Rhesus Measurement System (RMS). The RMS is designed to obtain in-flight physiological measurements from sensors interfaced with the subject. The RMS will acquire, preprocess, and transfer the physiologic data to the Flight Data System (FDS) for relay to the ground during flight. The measurements which will be taken by the RMS during the first flight will be respiration, measured at two different sites; electromyogram (EMG) at three different sites; electroencephalogram (EEG); electrocardiogram (ECG); and body temperature. These measurements taken by the RMS will assist the research team in meeting the science objectives of the RRF project.

Schonfeld, Julie E.↗

Using NASA Remotely Sensed Data to Help Characterize Environmental Risk Factors for National Public Health Applications

This project has dual goals in decision ]making activities .. Providing information to decision makers about associations between environmental exposures and health conditions in a large national cohort study. Enriching the CDC Wide ]ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) system by integrating environmental exposure data. .. Develop daily high ]quality spatial data sets of environmental variables for the conterminous U.S. for the years 2003-2008 utilizing NASA data (Objective 1). Fine Particulates (PM2.5) (NASA MODIS and EPA AQS). Land Surface Temperature (NASA MODIS). Solar Insolation and Heat ]related Products (Reanalysis Data). Link these environmental variables with public health data from a national cohort study and examine environmental health relationships (Objective 2). Cognitive Function. Hypertension. Make the environmental datasets available to public health professionals, researchers and the general public via the CDC WONDER system (Objective 3).

Al-Hamdan, Mohammad↗

Lunar regolith - Petrology of the less than 10 micron fraction

Petrographic data for the less than 10 micron fraction from four lunar surface soils are presented in an attempt to characterize the modal mineralogy of this fraction. Individual grains were studied with a scanning/transmission electron microscope with an attached energy dispersive spectrometer. Energy dispersive analytical data are presented, and comparative modal petrology of the soils is shown. Also presented are grain size histograms and diagrammatic representation of comparative modal data for the soils, as well as the feldspathic glass/mafic glass ratio, plagioclase/mafic mineral ratio, and SiO2 modal percent for different size fractions of the four types of soil. The modal results are consistent with chemical data regarding feldspathic and KREEP enrichment in the finest fraction. Grain-size distributions are inconsistent with a fine-grained exotic component derived from distant sources.

Devine, J. M.↗

Grain surface features of Apollo 17 orange and black glass

Lunar soil sample 74220 and core samples 74001/2 consist mainly of orange glass droplets, droplet fragments, and their crystallized equivalents. These samples are now generally accepted to be pyroclastic ejecta from early lunar volcanic eruptions. It has been known that they contain surface coatings and material rich in volatile condensable phases including S, Zn, F, Cl, and many volatile metals. Meyer summarizes the voluminous published chemical data and calculates the volatile enrichment ratios for most of the surface condensates. In an attempt to more completely understand this enrichment of surface volatiles, we have searched for carbon and carbon-bearing phases on droplet surfaces. We have reviewed many of our existing photomicrographs and energy dispersive analysis (EDX) of grain surfaces and have reexamined some of our older SEM mounts using an improved EDXA system capable of light element detection and analysis (oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon). In addition, we have made fresh mounts using procedures which should minimize carbon contamination or extraneous carbon x-rays and have analyzed for carbon.

Mckay, David S.↗

Crustal Heat Production and the Thermal Evolution of Mars

The chemical compositions of soils and rocks from the Pathfinder site and Phobos-2 orbital gamma-ray spectroscopy indicate that the Martian crust has a bulk composition equivalent to large-ion lithophile (LIL) and heat-producing element (HPE) enriched basalt, with a potassium content of about 0.5%. A variety of radiogenic isotopic data also suggest that separation of LIL-enriched crustal and depleted mantle reservoirs took place very early in Martian history (greater than 4.0 Ga). Accordingly, if the enriched Martian crust is greater than 30km thick it is likely that a large fraction (up to at least 50%) of the heat-producing elements in Mars was transferred into the crust very early in the planet's history. This would greatly diminish the possibility of early widespread melting of the Martian mantle.

McLennan, Scott M.↗

Crustal Heat Production and the Thermal Evolution of Mars

The chemical composition of soils and rocks from the Pathfinder site and Phobos-2 orbital gamma-ray spectroscopy indicate that the Martian crust has a bulk composition equivalent to large-ion lithophile (LIL) and heat-producing element (K, Th, U) enriched basalt, with a potassium content of about 0.5%. A variety of radiogenic isotope data also suggest that separation of LIL-enriched crust and depleted mantle reservoirs took place very early in Martian history (>4.0 Ga). Accordingly, if the enriched Martian crust is >30 km thick it is likely that a large fraction (up to at least 50%) of the heat-producing elements in Mars was transferred into the crust very early in the planet's history. This would greatly diminish the possibility of early widespread melting of the Martian mantle.

McLennan, Scott M.↗

Single Wall Nanotube Type-Specific Functionalization and Separation

Metallic single-wall carbon nanotubes were selectively solubilized in THF and separated from semiconducting nanotubes. Once separated, the functionalized metallic tubes were de-functionalized to restore their metallic band structure. Absorption and Raman spectroscopy of the enriched samples support conclusions of the enrichment of nanotube samples by metallic type. A scalable method for enriching nanotube conductive type has been developed. Raman and UV-Vis data indicate SWCNT reaction with dodecylbenzenediazonium results in metallic enrichment. It is expected that further refinement of this techniques will lead to more dramatic separations of types and diameters.

Boul, Peter↗

Aeroacoustic Simulation of Nose Landing Gear on Adaptive Unstructured Grids With FUN3D

Numerical simulations have been performed for a partially-dressed, cavity-closed nose landing gear configuration that was tested in NASA Langley s closed-wall Basic Aerodynamic Research Tunnel (BART) and in the University of Florida's open-jet acoustic facility known as the UFAFF. The unstructured-grid flow solver FUN3D, developed at NASA Langley Research center, is used to compute the unsteady flow field for this configuration. Starting with a coarse grid, a series of successively finer grids were generated using the adaptive gridding methodology available in the FUN3D code. A hybrid Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes/large eddy simulation (RANS/LES) turbulence model is used for these computations. Time-averaged and instantaneous solutions obtained on these grids are compared with the measured data. In general, the correlation with the experimental data improves with grid refinement. A similar trend is observed for sound pressure levels obtained by using these CFD solutions as input to a FfowcsWilliams-Hawkings noise propagation code to compute the farfield noise levels. In general, the numerical solutions obtained on adapted grids compare well with the hand-tuned enriched fine grid solutions and experimental data. In addition, the grid adaption strategy discussed here simplifies the grid generation process, and results in improved computational efficiency of CFD simulations.

Vatsa, Veer N.↗